Bride & Groom Spring 2019

Bride + G R O O M A GUIDE TO NEW ORLEANS WEDDINGS + UNIONS | SPRING 2019

UNDERGARMENTS AND COVER-UPS FOR THE WHOLE BRIDAL PARTY CHOOSING AN OFFICIANT FOR THE WEDDING CEREMONY HEADPIECES FOR EVERY TYPE OF BRIDE

What's Trending FOR SPRING AND SUMMER WEDDINGS A

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LET THE HISTORIC FAIR GROUNDS RACE COURSE BE THE BACKDROP OF YOUR WEDDING. • Wedding ceremonies and receptions, rehearsal parties, bridal showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties

• Indoor or outdoor space to accommodate 75-600 people • Full service catering available on site • Free secure parking

For more information, contact Denece Laborde at (504) 948-1159.

WE DO! Everything Wedding...WE

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417 Royal Street | French Quarter 504-934-3329 • www.brennansneworleans.com

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French Quatyer Courtyard Ceremony Receptions from 50-500 Post-Wedding Brunch Balcony Views Bridal Luncheon

900 City Park Avenue | Mid-City 504-488-5100 • www.ralphsonthepark.com

Rehearsal Dinner & MUCH MORE!

Menus • Photos • Inquiries

www.neworleans-food.com/WEDDINGS

500 Chartres Street | French Quarter 504-934-4704 • www.napoleonhouse.com

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Trusted for over 28 years ...

Custom Floral Design

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Linens

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Event Rentals

www.ThePlantGallery.com 504.488.8887

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Bridal headpieces Styles for boho, vintage and contemporary brides

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Make it official For a personal touch, have a friend or family member officiate your ceremony

Undergarments and cover-ups Feel confident no matter what you’re wearing

Ceremonies and receptions The latest trends according to local experts

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HEADPIECES

Vintage 1930s pearlescent beaded crown, $189 at Bambi DeVille.

No matter the type of bride — boho, vintage, classic or modern — local stores offer plenty of headpieces to top off your Big Day look. Many of these headpieces can be combined with a traditional veil, or you can don the veil for the ceremony and switch to one of

Vintage 1920s waxed bead crown, $295 at Bambi DeVille.

these headpieces to create a chic reception vibe.

WEDDING

headliners

Vintage 1940s ballet pink ostrich feather pom hat, $148 at Century Girl.

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BY K AT H E R I N E M . J O H N S O N

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Jeweled headpiece, $297 at The Bridal Boutique by MaeMe.

Rhinestone headpiece with double ribbon tie, $147 at The Bridal Boutique by MaeMe.

Gold wire tiara with silk leaves and pearls, $130 at Pearl’s Place.

Rose gold tiara, $220 at Pearl’s Place.

Flexible wired hair vine in gold by Twigs & Honey, $155 at Wedding Belles.

HEADPIECES

Where

Marry Me Magpie

TO SHOP: Bambi DeVille 818 Royal St. (second floor); 1925 Sophie Wright Place, (504) 491-0824; www.bambideville.com

Silk flower halo with satin ribbon tie, $125 at Town & Country Bridal.

The Bridal Boutique

by MaeMe 3331 Severn Ave., Suite 102, Metairie, (504) 266-2771; www.maemebridal.com Century Girl 2023 Magazine St., (504) 875-3105; www.centurygirlvintage.com Maria Etkind Millinery www.mariaetkindmillinery.com

4529 Magazine Street • 891-1333

Pearl’s Place 3114 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 885-9213; www.pearlsplace.com

Handmade vintage-style sinamay headband with silk flowers and pearl trim, $295 at Maria Etkind Millinery.

Wedding Belles 3632 Magazine St., (504) 891-1005; www.weddingbellesnola.com

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Ivory mink fur comb, $110 at Century Girl.

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Town & Country Bridal 1514 St. Charles Ave., (504) 523-7027; www.townandcountrybridal.com

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Say “I Do” to St. Bernard Parish Just minutes away from the New Orleans French Quarter, St. Bernard is ready to host your next event.

Between the historic St. Bernard Parish Courthouse, the quaint Aycock Barn in Arabi, or the expansive Frederick J. Sigur Center, we can accommodate any event you have in store.

No matter what setting you have in mind, be it a small intimate gathering or a party for a couple thousand, contact us for more information to host your next event!

Follow St. Bernard Tourism on OF

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w w w.visitstbernard.com | (504) 278.4242

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BY K ANDACE P OWER GR AVE S

Wedding couples choose officiants to help personalize their ceremonies.

Mindy Dennis (top right) pronounces Annie Labruzzo and Louis Guidry husband and wife.

and aren’t open on weekends). He also has worked with state Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, to change Louisiana’s mandatory waiting period between obtaining a license and getting married from 72 hours to 24 hours. That change went into effect in August 2018.

Papillion-Herr says nearly 75 percent of her business comes from out-of-town couples who want a unique experience.

“What I found with destination wedding couples is that they appreciate being able to come to New Orleans,” she says. “They’re already coming here for the energy of New Orleans … and they feel like it’s a more spiritual or metaphysical presence in a city that is known for that already.”

Not all wedding couples stay in contact with the person who married them, but some officiants form lasting bonds. Talavera says he has maintained relationships with some of his couples, including one he married, then renewed their vows after 10 years and again after 15 years. Labruzzo’s officiant is still her best friend.

“I was in a room with some people with half a dozen marriages between them,” she says, “and they were trying to remember the name of the priest or the judge who married them. Only one of the half dozen could remember the name. I’m thinking to myself, …

‘I know [my officiant’s] first, middle and last names and the dates her children were born, and she’s been through all the hard times with me. “[Using her as an officiant] was the right decision for us for that very reason.”

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someone close to them can do the ceremony, they started calling on her, too,” Labruzzo says.

Some wedding couples seek officiants who are open to or experienced in alternative ceremonies.

Papillion-Herr has compiled small books for her clients with examples of different types of ceremonies she has prepared, from casual to funny to religious, and some that involve wedding guests. She also offers crystal divination, sacred blessings, unity ceremonies and other services.

“They really just want something that feels like them,” Pappillion-Herr says. “They want to be up there with somebody that they feel is just as excited for them as they are, someone they will be happy to tell their story to.” She adds that some couples are hesitant to share some details of their relationship (such as meeting on Tinder or having a first date in a bar) with clergy because they fear they may be judged for their lifestyles.

Officiants also benefit from destination weddings in New Orleans, since those couples likely wouldn’t have close connections to clergy here.

Among couples who married in the U.S. in 2018, 25 percent held their weddings outside the city where they lived, according to The Wedding Report, a website that compiles country-wide wedding statistics.

“People want to get married here,” Talavera says. “They are in love with our city.” He is urging officials to make things easier for couples by increasing access to marriage licenses (currently the state operates offices in Orleans Parish that close early

PHOTO BY CHRIS TOPHER BAUDOT

BRIDE + GROOM

MANY WEDDING TRENDS COME AND GO — food items, color palettes, decor — but one that has continued to grow for the past few years is the use of officiants to perform wedding ceremonies. Experts posit a variety of reasons couples choose secular officiants instead of getting married by clergy members, including couples of different denominations or faiths, those who live alternative lifestyles and a move by young people away from organized religion. (There are officiants who also are clergy but perform weddings outside of the church and are open to alternative vows and services.)

More than 2.2 million couples got married in the U.S. in 2016, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. A survey by the wedding site The Knot found that 43 percent used an officiant, sometimes a friend or family member, to perform their ceremonies, compared to 29 percent in 2009.

“I think [couples] are looking for a personalized experience,” says LaToya Papillion-Herr, a minister and owner of Waning Moon Weddings & Ceremonies (www.waningmoonweddings. com). If a couple goes to a church to get married, she says, “the pastor or minister or the priest is going to say whatever is their standard ceremony … and all of your guests have heard it all before.

“But when you work with an officiant, you are working with someone who is taking the time to know you and your partner and what you’ve been through and is creating an environment at the altar that is fun and memorable and feels good. It invites your guests to actually be present at the ceremony instead of just waiting for it to end.”

The Rev. Tony Talavera, a minister and owner of the French Quarter Wedding Chapel (www.frenchquarterweddingchapel.com), has married 18,000 couples (including renewals) in the last 19 years. His clients cite finances, stress and family expectations as reasons couples seek his services.

“I think one is financial; we don’t have a stable economy,” says Talavera, who has a chapel couples can use for their ceremonies. “Also, what I hear is that the families put a lot of stress on [wedding couples] and it becomes very stressful to get married with a big wedding. It used to be, ‘Daddy’s little girl is going to have what she wants.’ Now the couples are paying for it themselves.”

Annie Labruzzo, an architect, married Louis Guidry on her best friend’s porch in Abita Springs March 5, 2016.

That best friend, Mindy Dennis, also was the officiant.

“We’re not religious … so it didn’t seem like us to go find a religious person to do it,” Labruzzo says. “A judge seemed really impersonal, and that’s not us either. We thought it should be someone important to us, who we admire and respect and who is in our lives on a regular basis.”

Dennis, co-owner/co-director of Southern Magnolia Montessori School, became an officiant at Labruzzo’s request but since has performed other marriages, some stemming from that first wedding.

“When family members realized

OFFICIANTS

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FOR YOUR HISTORIC DAY The National WWII Museum invites you to customize your special event in one of our stunning spaces. We offer multiple unique venues located in the heart of the Warehouse District.

WEDDING RECEPTIONS REHEARSAL DINNERS

SOCIAL & CORPORATE EVENTS BRIDAL LUNCHEONS

Photos courtesy of Eye Wander and Studio Tran Photography

504-528-1944 x 288 | rentals@nationalww2museum.org | nationalww2museum.org/rentals

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OVER/ Under

AC C E S S O R I E S

This sexy slip functions as both shapewear and lingerie, $159 at Yvonne LaFleur.

Undergarments and coverups for everyone from the bride to wedding guests B Y S A R A H R A V I T S This skort works as both a slip and shapewear, featuring built-in control bike shorts that flatter without constricting. $74 at The Bra Genie.

This wireless bra can offer a flirty peek of lace through a low-cut gown. $55 at Basics Underneath.

Rose-colored, highwaist underwear offers seamless shaping under a formal gown. $55 at Basics Underneath.

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This chic and versatile Sleevey Wonder features slip-on sleeves and is reversible with a high, curved neckline on one side and a deep-V neck on the other — perfect for adding extra coverage under a strapless dress. $49 at Yvonne LaFleur.

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A tasteful capelet adds an extra touch of glamour, $159 at Yvonne LaFleur.

Where

TO SHOP: Basics Underneath 5513 Magazine St., (504) 894-1000; www.basicsunderneath.com Bra Genie 3054 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite C, Metairie, (504) 644-2500; 6021 Pinnacle Parkway, Covington, (985) 951-8638; www.thebragenie.com Trashy Diva Clothing Boutique 537 Royal St., (504) 522-4233; 2048 Magazine St.,

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Add some festive flair by covering your shoulders with this embroidered fringe-adorned shawl, $126 at Trashy Diva Clothing Boutique.

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Get ready for the big day in style with this elegant robe, $78 at Basics Underneath. It also makes a lovely bridal party gift.

(504) 299-8777; www.trashydiva.com Yvonne LaFleur 8131 Hampson St., (504) 866-9666; www.yvonnelafleur.com

CREATE YOUR STORY WITH US HISTORIC SPACES • CONTEMPORARY CUISINE • LIFETIME MEMORIES

LOCATED IN THE HEART OF OLD MANDEVILLE BOOK YOUR EVENT TODAY

985.778.2045 maison-lafitte.com lakehousecuisine.com

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504 944-2536 W W W.CH A PSPA RT Y R E N TA L S.COM

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Serving beautiful brides for over thirty years.

TENTS, TABLES, CHAIRS, LINEN, CHINA, GLASSWARE, WEDDING ITEMS AND PHOTO BOOTHS.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Bride Groom &

PLANNER Local vendors to help you with your big day F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N A B O U T E A C H B U S I N E S S , L O O K F O R T H E I R A D IN THIS EDITION OF BRIDE & GROOM.

Travel Central At Travel Central, we believe that every wedding is unique. There isn’t a “one size fits all” destination wedding resort. Our experts Katie Smith, Courtney Abramovitz and Leatta Perdue are here to help you plan the destination wedding of your dreams. We recommend wedding resorts based on your desired location, style and budget because we want to ensure that you receive the most personalized wedding options. Planning a wedding can be stressful, so let us worry about the details.

Calcasieu

New Orleans City Park

Calcasieu, owned by James Beard Award winning chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski, offers four private dining rooms in the heart of the bustling Warehouse District. With exposed brick, large windows and industrial fixtures, the space provides a trendy atmosphere that, when paired with the culinary expertise and passion of the space’s owners, goes unparalleled. For the couple that wants to dine on the finest locally-sourced ingredients before dancing the night away, look no further than Calcasieu.

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New Orleans City Park is as magical as the city of New Orleans. The 1,300-acre oasis has enchanted guests since 1854, making it one of the nation’s oldest urban parks. City Park is home to the world’s largest stand of mature live oaks, which includes oaks dating back nearly 800 years.

New Orleans City Park offers something for everyone’s taste with multiple venues both indoors and outdoors under the grand old oaks. The park’s talented staff will help make your dreams come true with an experience filled with joy. Visit soon and feel the magic of New Orleans City Park.

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Club XLIV / Encore Named after the New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl victory, club XLIV is not just for first-class pregames. Only steps away from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and Champions Square, club XLIV and Encore are New Orleans’ premier luxury wedding venues. Before second-lining to the custom illuminated bar decorated by the lyrics of Louis Armstrong, take a look at the glossy jazz instruments, vibrant Muses shoes and custom artwork that fill the ivory walls of the New Orleans-inspired space. Encore is the perfect addition to club XLIV. Connected to it by oversized sliding doors, Encore is ideal for a ceremony or additional reception space.

Maison Lafitte

Antoine’s Antoine’s Restaurant, in the heart of the French Quarter, offers a romantic setting for your New Orleans wedding.

With 14 distinct dining rooms, Antoine’s can accommodate weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal luncheons and receptions of all sizes. Menus can be created from the restaurant’s classic selections or customized for your event. Please call the private dining specialist to set up a meeting and tour. Celebrating at Antoine’s will create lasting memories.

The Lakehouse The Lakehouse is a full-service catering company, restaurant and event venue located in Mandeville, Louisiana, just 30 miles north of New Orleans.

Housed in the historic Bechac House built in the 1830s and overlooking Lake Pontchartrain, we offer a unique setting for locals and visitors to enjoy upscale dining and memorable events. The Lakehouse is the perfect spot for meetings, corporate functions, fundraisers, rehearsal dinners, weddings and other events.

Formerly known as the Moore House and Johnson House, our historic property, built circa 1900, now called Maison Lafitte, operates as a special events venue for personalized events and weddings. The almost 4,000 squarefoot antebellum-style home features a wraparound porch and a 2,000-square-foot open-air pavilion for hosting events of all sizes. Maison Lafitte can accommodate events for 30 to 300 people, which works beautifully for showers, luncheons, rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, company events, weddings — whatever cause for celebration you may have in life.

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The Dauphine Orleans Hotel The Dauphine Orleans Hotel boasts a French Quarter courtyard setting that is perfect for an intimate New Orleans wedding. The courtyard can accommodate small weddings from 2 to 50 guests.

Book a block of hotel rooms to host all your wedding guests in one central location, just one block from Bourbon Street. The newly renovated May Baily’s Place offers a unique location for your welcome reception or wedding after-party. Packages can be customized to include all your wedding needs. Allow us to cater to every detail as we help plan your intimate wedding at this charming French Quarter hotel.

National WWII Museum The National WWII Museum provides a wide variety of venues designed to accommodate meetings, luncheons, wedding receptions, holiday parties and seated dinners of various sizes. Let the museum’s signature in-house entertainment take your guests on a nostalgic journey through WWII-era musical classics. All of the delectable food is prepared exclusively in-house through American Sector Catering, featuring cuisine inspired by the WWII generation and local Louisiana tradition.

The Pearl Room The Pearl Room is Harahan’s newest event space that can accommodate up to 250 people. As a venue operated by Mr. Ed’s restaurants, The Pearl Room is a destination for all events from wedding receptions, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, reunions, anniversary parties and every birthday in between.

At The Pearl Room, the possibilities are endless.

Fair Grounds Race Course A New Orleans tradition since 1872, the historic Fair Grounds Race Course is the ideal setting for your wedding. With a variety of indoor and outdoor accommodations for up to 700 people, the Fair Grounds can host your wedding ceremony, reception, rehearsal party, bridal shower and bachelor or bachelorette parties with scenic views of Downtown New Orleans. We offer full-service on-site catering and virtually every other amenity for your special occasion.

Joey K’s Have your next private party at Joey K’s! The upstairs double-parlor room can accommodate between 50 and 60 guests and includes a large wrap-around balcony overlooking Magazine Street.

It’s the perfect setting for events such as rehearsal dinners, small weddings and wedding showers. Guests can dine buffet-style, sit-down or family-style..

St. Bernard Event Rental Facilities

Facing Washington Square Park in the heart of Faubourg Marigny, on the edge of New Orleans’ world famous Frenchmen Street entertainment district, history meets modern elegance in the Royal Frenchmen Hotel and Bar. Beautifully restored and renovated in 2017, our Creole Mansion features 13 guest rooms and 3 suites. We feature a 1,600-square-foot stunning courtyard, providing the perfect space for a wedding or social event. The Royal Frenchmen Bar is a cozy reprieve offering inspired craft cocktails, artisan wines and spirits and familiar and unique local beers. Royal Frenchmen is your new home in New Orleans.

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Brennan’s

Brennan’s iconic pink building on Royal Street serves as the perfect location for rehearsal dinners, wedding ceremonies, receptions, bridal/groomsmen luncheons, bachelor parties and farewell breakfasts.

Eight glamorous dining rooms, each steeped in New Orleans architecture and ambiance, can be combined to create a spectacular wedding event for you. The fanciful design preserves the famous open-air courtyard, perfect for elegant ceremonies and receptions. Our private wine room, which can serve as a VIP or bridal suite, features an eighteen-foot table milled from a single cypress tree. Winner of Wedding Wire’s “Couple’s Choice” and The Knot’s “Best of Weddings” awards, Brennan’s and its team are sure to dazzle you!

The Royal Frenchmen

BRIDE + GROOM

St. Bernard Event Rental Facilities is dedicated to providing you with superior service and the best product selection to fit every budget. Our event specialists have managed thousands of events, ranging from intimate gatherings to large corporate functions. No event is too large or too small. We are deeply committed to making you look great, and we’re meticulous about maintaining an inventory with a large selection of unique items for those final touches, bringing more style and sophistication to your table. We look forward to helping you create memorable moments that will live on long after the final guest has left.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Fisher & Sons Jewelers Since 1977, Fisher & Sons Jewelers’ goal is to make sure every customer has a wonderful experience when visiting the store in Metairie. The Fisher family works to combine the old-fashioned family-owned and operated business model while staying up-to-date in the 21st century. The small family business model continues today after more than 40 years of business, with Craig, Chloe, Barry and Ryan running the store, ‘Where the Unusual is Commonplace’.

Ramsey’s When you’re ready to shop for diamond jewelry, visit the largest diamond store in Louisiana at Ramsey’s Diamond Jewelers on Veterans between Bonnabel and West End. At Ramsey’s, we’ll show you every diamond jewelry option available. You can reach into our jewelry cases and pull out hundreds of rings to try on. Each item is clearly marked with our absolute best price so you never have to negotiate.

We believe every family needs a jeweler. You’ll be happy you chose Ramsey’s.

Martin Wine Cellar

Beatrixbell Handcrafted Magpie Vintage Jewelry Nestled at 4529 Magazine Street just off Napoleon Avenue, Magpie Vintage and Estate Jewelry is a locally owned vintage jewelry store and consignment boutique. With over 20 years of knowhow, owner Sarah Wheelock personally curates Magpie’s collection of art deco, victorian, and contemporary engagement rings and wedding bands. She is GIA certified in diamond grading to ensure the finest quality engagement rings for her clients and consignors.

There’s a ring for every bride at Magpie!

Beatrixbell Handcrafted is a gift shop and jewelry design studio located in Historic Algiers Point. Tucked in the back of the gift shop is the jewelry studio, a magical place containing thousands of pearls, crystals and gemstones waiting to be transformed into customized necklaces, bracelets, earrings or hair pieces. Clients love participating in the design process and creating the perfect accessories that can be worn during and after the wedding. Gather your ideas and inspirations so Beatrixbell Handcrafted can help you create your perfect bridal accessories.

Martin Wine Cellar is more than just your local wine and liquor store. They provide full-service catering with services that include, but are not limited to: customized menus, wine lists, full bar, servers, bartenders, glassware, equipment rental and delivery, and more! Whether it’s their seasonal menus, quality ingredients, or professional staff, it’s their mission to make every event a celebration. Martin Wine Cellar takes pride in being a family-owned business that is dedicated to making your special day seamless and memorable!

Lucky Dogs Lucky Dogs Inc. is a unique fast food company offering an impulse item that serves as a snack, an appetizer or a meal in itself. While this may be an old company, it has exciting new concepts. Part of the appeal are the uniquely designed kiosks and carts which capture the character and charm of the traditional French Quarter snack. For more information about private parties and special events, please visit the Lucky Dogs website.

With private rooms that can accommodate up to 500 people, Andrea’s is a fantastic venue for your wedding or wedding party. Chef Andrea and his professional staff offer a wide variety of reception packages enabling wedding planners to customize the experience for their guests. From buffets and carving stations to delicious desserts and open bars, Andrea’s is available for private parties, business meetings, wedding receptions, buffets, children’s parties, showers and teas, bar and bat mitzvahs and, of course, breakfasts, lunches and dinners as well. Offsite catering also is available for up to 1,000 guests.

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Pearl’s Place has been a local tradition for generations. Our story began 5 decades ago, and today the family still upholds its legacy with an outstanding selection of gowns with thoughtful customer service to match. Pearl’s Place always is searching for the best representations of classic styles by frequenting bridal markets and cultivating strong relationships with the most coveted bridal designers. Our dedication to our clients has gotten us recognition on Oprah, The Today Show, People Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. We take these honors very seriously and aim to send everyone home overjoyed with their experience. No matter the bride or budget, we’re eager to make your bridal party look and feel positively wonderful.

BRIDE + GROOM

Andrea’s Restaurant

Pearl’s Place

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Bambi DeVille Vintage

Scriptura

Vintage bridal and wedding accessories, like this antique wax pastel floral headpiece, are just one of the many finds at Bambi DeVille Vintage. With a new location in the lower Garden District and a flagship store on Royal Street, Bambi DeVille Vintage is filled with one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, some from the early 1900s.

Bambi carries vintage bridal gowns and accessories from the 1920s and newer including jewelry, shoes, tiaras, headpieces, millinery, gloves, purses and more.

Scriptura specializes in creating custom wedding invitations, stationery, party invitations and accessories for all of life’s important events. With a full-service graphic design department, Scriptura has provided stylish paper goods to a discerning clientele for 23 years. The original location on Magazine Street houses a letterpress atelier with five antique printing presses in constant use.

Works created in both locations have been profiled in national publications including Garden and Gun, Departures and The New York Times.

Sucré

Claudia Croazzo Claudia Croazzo is a bespoke international fashion house, in which every piece of her collection is carefully and thoughtfully designed with fabric sourced by Claudia herself. All designs are tailored to her personal taste. Claudia Croazzo specializes in affordable, ready-to-wear couture collections and bespoke made-to-measure gowns for a formal, red-carpet look.

BRIDE + GROOM

V I N TA G E B R I D A L G O W N S &

ACCESSORIES FROM THE 1920S

JEWELRY

TIARAS

MILLINERY

PURSES

SHOES

HEADPIECES

GLOVES

AND MORE!

818 ROYAL • 504.491.0824 • 1925 SOPHIE B. WRIGHT • B A M B I D E V I L L E . C O M

CLOTHING, BAKELITE, ACCESSORIES & MORE! CLOTHING, BAKELITE, ACCESSORIES & MORE!

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CLOTHING, BAKELITE, ACCESSORIES & MORE! CLOTHING, BAKELITE, ACCESSORIES & MORE!

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CLOTHING, BAKELITE, ACCESSORIES & MORE! CLOTHING, BAKELITE, ACCESSORIES & MORE!

Whether you’re looking for a showstopper cake, delightful desserts or a gorgeous event space to hold your bridal party, rehearsal dinner, wedding reception or ceremony, Sucré and Salon by Sucré can do it all. Sucré specializes in custom-designed cakes and, of course, their beautiful, delicate macarons and chocolates. To schedule a cake consultation, call (504) 708-4366 or email info@shopsucre.com.

To view the event space at Salon

by Sucre, contact Kristy Smith at ksmith@shopsucre.com.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Eau Claire Photographics

Golf Club at Audubon Park

Established in 2001, Eau Claire Photographics offers beautiful documentary wedding photography in New Orleans. We find inspiration in beautiful images and authentic moments. Our wedding day coverage is unscripted and unposed, resulting in a natural, “in the moment” style. We document your wedding day by capturing spontaneous split-second memories, as well as soft, romantic portraits. The creative and respectful approach we take captures the true essence of your wedding day. Dripping with opulence, oozing originality or characteristically classic — whatever your wedding style, we will make sure your wedding day is framed to perfection, forever.

The Plant Gallery At The Plant Gallery, our wedding and floral specialists take planning and coordinating your wedding personally. We specialize in classic New Orleans weddings and go above and beyond to capture your vision to make your wedding day the wedding of your dreams. We work to understand your needs and budget and give you the very best we have to offer. Our specialists make it a priority to understand you and guide you through the steps as you plan every detail of your wedding day. Along with our floral arrangements, we also rent linens, plants and other event decor.

The staff at the Golf Club at Audubon Park welcomes you to New Orleans’ oldest and most pristine golf course. Winding through centuries-old oak trees, each branch holding secrets of the past, the breathtaking layout has established itself as one of the country’s premier golfing destinations.

The golf course is full of slopes, mounds, lots of sand traps and four lagoons. After your 18-hole stroll through Big Easy history, the beautiful clubhouse veranda invites you to relax and enjoy one of the city’s most spectacular vistas. The clubhouse is a wooden, raised structure that reflects the architectural styles of New Orleans.

Bra Genie A bride will be radiant at her wedding, but we can’t underrate style beyond the big day!

You wouldn’t settle for standard in a wedding gown or bridal lingerie, so why would you skimp on your honeymoon looks? Feel comfortable and confident on your ultimate vacation in the right swimsuit — it’s empowering! Each of the three Bra Genie stores carries only the best-fitting swimwear styles, and most of it is bra-sized to make swim selection much easier and more flattering. Bra-sized swim... who knew?

contact us at 504-708-4366 or info@shopsucre.com

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wedding cakes specialty cakes mini desserts confections chocolates

BRIDE + GROOM

have your cake and eat it, too

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GATHER DINE CELEBRATE Catering at Our Venue & Around Town • Rehearsal Dinners • Wedding Receptions • Post Wedding Brunches • Conference Dinners • Corporate Lunches & Dinners

• Social Events • Holiday Celebrations

BRIDE + GROOM

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930 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 504.588.2188 | calcasieurooms.com

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ON-TRENDWeddings TRENDS

Raw bars, bourbon flights and silent discos are just a few of the ways that local couples are getting into the spirit of wedded bliss.

BY S A R A H R AV I T S

PHOTO BY CALVIN GAVION

Brandi Charlot, owner of BLucid Floral, says contemporary brides prefer dark hued flowers, even for spring weddings. Bridesmaids often will carry complementary (not identical) bouquets.

pressure off the couple (and guests who might be picky eaters), since it allows for more options. Family-style dining, she says, also is less formal than serving plated entrees, as it allows guests to mingle more. Hall says a lot of traditional New Orleans dishes fall into the comfort food realm, so, by nature, they add to a warmer, more inviting atmosphere.

Another popular food set-up is a raw bar.

“Oysters are a must,” Hall says.

Many of her clients request oyster bars with shuckers on duty in front of guests (instead of shucking them in the kitchen unseen), because it creates a more hospitable and interactive environment. “It’s a fun and interesting experience for your guests to enjoy at your reception,” she says.

Depending on how late the reception or after-party goes, some couples also opt to bring in a food truck or introduce another low-key-yet-

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Brides want “lots of organic imagery, and significantly (fewer) formal fonts,” Jones says, adding that she sees these patterns trending in both decor and fashion.

Brandi Charlot, owner of BLucid Floral (113 St. Claude Ave., 504-9576357; www.blucidfloral.com), says she similarly has seen an increase in requests for bold florals.

“Brides still like to carry a bou-

PHOTO BY MARL A BERNSTEIN

Raw bars serving fresh oysters are a reception-must, according to Sarah Hall, president of Joel Catering. Having someone shuck the oysters in front of the guests adds an interactive element to the celebration.

BRIDE + GROOM

WHEN IT COMES TO WEDDING PLANNING IN 2019, there is a lot more flexibility and opportunity for customization, down to the smallest detail.

Many engaged couples aren’t interested in generic nuptials; instead they want to showcase their love in the form of a fully curated experience.

It starts with the invitations.

Margaret Jones, co-owner of Scriptura (Lakeside Shopping Center Annex, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 504219-1113; 5423 Magazine St., 504-897-1555; www.scriptura. com), says she’s receiving requests for lush, floral designs.

quet,” she says. “They love the cascading bouquets — that has made a comeback.” She also says bridesmaids often carry complementary — instead of identical — bouquets.

Brides are choosing darker colored flowers, even in the springtime.

The ceremony and the exchange of vows used to be the centerpiece of a wedding, but Jack Kane, director of operations at Sapphire Events (900 Camp St., Suite 358, 504-3834376; www.sapphireevents.com), says many couples now want to exchange their vows in a more intimate atmosphere, surrounded only by their closest friends and family, and then direct their energy toward throwing the party of a lifetime.

“Clients are straying away from traditional ceremonies,” Kane says, and many couples are opting to exchange vows in nonreligious venues.

Overall, weddings are becoming more casual. “People just want to get straight to the dinner and dancing,” he says.

Sarah Hall, president of Joel Catering (1911 Magazine St., 504-8272400; www.joels.com), says because New Orleans is such a food-centric city, couples pay extra attention to the menu and bar options.

She notes the continued popularity of family-style dining, which takes

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BRIDE + GROOM

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booze-absorbing and crowd-pleasing food, such as pizza.

Kane adds that many of his clients now seek a “huge variety” of food options. “They might have a few favorite restaurants, so they might even offer dishes from a variety of restaurants or caterers,” he says. “People want to give their guests a great food experience.

Food and beverages are the most important thing to our clients.”

Both Kane and Hall have noticed the rise of the customized cocktail trend.

“Invest in a cocktail program,” Kane suggests. “Give your guests something different — instead of vodka-sodas, [clients] want to bring in cocktails that really speak to them.”

Hall says the influx of craft brewers to New Orleans has complemented the wedding industry here, with many couples incorporating custom brews into their receptions.

“We have so many great local brewery options,” which provides an even more curated selection of beverages to offer at the reception, she says. “We work with local breweries to create something really ultra-specific and unique, so that’s a fun way to bring some specificity into your wedding experience.”

Bringing in an expert — for example, a sommelier or master bourbon taster — to conduct a wine or liquor tasting can really bring the bar experience to another level, Hall says. It also adds an interactive component, elevating the standard bar experience to something memorable.

PHOTO BY CALVIN GAVION

Charlot says the cascading bouquet, such as this bridal bouquet made of white orchids, wildly popular in the ’80s, is trending again.

Following a successful reception, some particularly boisterous couples might want to continue the party, especially if there are a lot of out-of-town guests who aren’t ready for the celebration to end.

For after-parties, there also are tons of options. It’s pretty common to incorporate a second line somewhere in the festivities, usually after the ceremony or the reception, but if you’re in a residential area, Kane suggests a clever way to get around potentially cranky neighbors: host a silent disco.

“Sometimes couples will have two different DJs and playlists, and (guests) are connected [to the DJs’ audio feed] through wireless headphones,” he says. “They light up in different colors [corresponding to the DJ to whom they are connected], so everyone is dancing, but once you take them off, they are completely silent. It really helps with the noise ordinance issues.”

The shift from treating a wedding as merely an event to a curated “experience” ensures that when the party is over, newlyweds can settle into their domestic routine knowing that they — and their guests — always will remember their Big Day.

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